Volunteer Panel Member - Orkney based

  • VO98113


Description

Volunteer with Children’s Hearings Scotland (CHS) and make a difference in your community!

Children’s Hearings Scotland (CHS) is recruiting for volunteer Panel Members across the country to help support Scotland’s infants, children and young people.

We are looking for enthusiastic people aged 18 and over who can show empathy, compassion and great listening skills. Panel Members are volunteers from local communities who take part in children's hearing. Their role is to listen and make legal decisions with and for infants, children and young people who have been referred to the Children's Panel. Panel Members ensure that the young person is at the heart of every decision made - because every decision, no matter how big or small, has an impact on the life of the child or young person in the hearing.

We offer a certificated training programme with a highly experienced team to support your development, who will help you along your journey in becoming a panel member.
Applications open 2nd September and close midnight 30th September 2024. Visit www.chscotland.gov.uk to apply.

The role of a Panel Member is to listen and make legal decisions with and for infants, children and young people. They are there to ensure that the young person is at the heart of every decision taken.

Your training and experience as a Panel Member equips you with a range of transferable skills. These include: dealing with complex issues and communicating these with empathy and compassion when working with children, young people and families; principles and practices within the children’s hearings system, including law and procedure; chairing hearings; decision making and protecting rights. Other skills include: leadership, analytical thinking and communication and influencing skills.

Restrictions

Experience required: To become a Panel Member, you need to be over 18 and live and/or work in the local authority area in which you wish to volunteer. Young people are looking for Panel Members who can show compassion and empathy, are trustworthy and good listeners.

Support

Expenses paid: Yes
Training details: Operated in partnership with West Lothian College, our Children’s Hearings Scotland Learning Academy provides a range of online and face-to-face learning and development opportunities that ensure our Panel and Area Support Team members are well trained to undertake their roles. After initial training, Panel Members are supported throughout and encouraged to undertake further training and development.